Plural valve actuation and control



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PLURAL VALVE ACTUATION AND CONTROL Originaly Filed Oct. 15I 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 ND WHEEL i PACK/N6 GLA/vo T4 [7 132 T4 Bf?? T5 DRAIN/N5 BAC/(WASHING SEIN/NG EINS/NG E] wwe/wim Eric -Picil xm. w :a

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Jan. 11, 1949. E. PICK PLURAL VALVE ACTUATION AND yCONTROL.

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Jan. 11, 1949. E, PICK Re., 23,076 I PLURAL VALVE ACTUATION AND CONTROL Original Filed Oct. l5, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 F/LTEE WATER T0 SE 12V/CE P/Lo-r VALVE I WASTE our/.ET l BA/Ls h4; T0 SEWER,

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l PLURAL VALVE C'IU'IION AND CONTROL Original Filed Oct. 15, 1935 9 Sheets-Shed*l 6 CONTACT' oN :P Ex TENS/0N oF L [M 1 l P15 TON 20D STATION/22) NORMAL/ Y CLOSED CONTC. SOLENID VALVE.

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PLURAL VALVE ACTUATION AND CONTROL Original Filed Oct.V 15, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 Jan. 1l, 1949. E. PICK PLURAL VALVE ACTUTION AND CQNTROL 9 SheelLS--Sheefl 8 Original Filed 0G12. 15, 1955 PACK/NG 6A SKE T' SPE/N6 BAC/(WASHING fief- ,zzz

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E. PICK PLURAL VALVE ACTUATI-ON AND CONTROL Original Filed Oct. 15, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 @MAJ gmc/vwo@ Eric Piera,

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PLURAL VALVE ACTUATION ANDACONIROL Erie rick, East Rockaway, N. Y., assigner te The Pcrmutit Company, New York, N. Y., a corporas tion of Delaware Original No. 2,076,321. dated April 6, 1937, Serial No. 45.133, October 15, 1935. Application for reissue` September 20, 1945, Serial No. 617,657

'4 Claims. (Cl. 137-144) This invention relates to plural valve actuation and control; and it comprises a valve system for water treatment and for coordination of fluid control generally wherein a plurality of valves controlling several different iluid ilows are actuated by individual cylinder-pistons energized by action of a common rotary multiway pilot valve having a pressure iluid inlet, a waste outlet and a plurality of pairs of ports connected respectively to both ends of the several cylinders with a rotatable valve member adapted upon rotation to connect either one of each pair of ports to the pressure uid inlet and the other Vport o! each pair to the waste outlet, the rotatable member of the multiway pilot valve being readily and advantageously rotated by an electric motor with automatic control by electrical means of the individual valve operations in a cycle of timed sequence; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed.

In the large scale purication of water sup-l plies such as in municipal water softeners and filters Where the control of relatively large ilows of water and of treating fluids is required, -manual operation of plural valves of large size becomes impracticable and resort is had to power valves of various types. In adapting the zeolite water softening process, for example, to large scale operation, coordination oi' the operation of a plurality of large sized heavy valves by Power means introduces new problems. The use of a central multiway valve with large sized pipe connections may be exceedingly inconvenient if not impracticable. In the present invention I have succeeded in simplifyingthe synchronous operation of plural valves and in making actuation and control of heavy valves automatic and foolproof. The controlled coordination of large plural valves becomes as simple as that of the relatively small valves in prior water softeners and filters. The system of valve coordination here disclosed in water treating apparatus is applicable to fluid flows of various kinds, such for example as the control of the air, steam, and gas ows in'water gas generator sets.

I have found that the operation of as many as seven large valves directing the flows for lve separate operations in large scale water softening can be coordinated and controlled by a system of heavy valves actuated by fluid pressure under control of a single rotary multi-way pilot valve operating the several heavy valves in a predetermined sequence through connections made by the pilot valve with a common pressure line and a common waste line. Five dierent operations.

`the bottom pipe of one of such as upilow softening, brining, rinsingdownwardly and upwardly, and draining, are eil'ected by turning the' rotary multiway valve "to ve different positions corresponding to the several operations. To accomplish this, each of the individual heavy valves is actuated by a. pressure cylinder and piston provided with two conneciions to the rotary multiway pilo'. valve, these two connections being made at both ends of the-cylinder and on opposite sides of the piston, so that the valve may be either opened or closed by actuation of the piston in the cylinder in either direction. Y

In the individual pressure valve actuation, the piston is energized t-o open or close the valve by a flow of iluid under pressure from a pressure line through the common pilot valve with a discharge of waste iluid from the cylinder through the pilot valve to a common waste line. Each cylinder has a. pair of pipes, designated the bottom and top pipe, running to the pilot valve, and the pilot valve is provided with a plurality of ports in pairs, one of each pair of ports being connected with the pressure valve cylinders and the other to the top pipe of the same cylinder.

In a multiway `pilot valve of the rotary disc type, all of the bottom ports of the pilot valve are located in the pilot valve body at points sub stantially equidistant from the center of the valve, that is, at substantially the same radial distance. All of the top ports of the pilot valve are located at points also substantially equidistant from the centerand at a different radial distance from that of the bottom ports. The common pressure fluid line is connected into the pilot valve casing and the waste line enters the valve body substantially at the center and, therefore. at substantially the same distance from all of the bottom ports and at another substantially equal distance from all of the top ports. Advantageously, a port plate is provided in the pilot valve having a port communicating with the waste linefat the center and having ports corresponding to the bottom and top connection ports. The valve has a rotatable member or rotor with a face seated upon the face of the port plate and provided with a recess, an arcuate opening running through the rotor and a cavity or channel arranged to communicate with the waste port in ,the port plate and running around the rotor face. The rotor is pressed against the port plate by a spring held between the rotor and the valve 'casing and the iluid pressure line delivers into the valve casing so as to be in open communication with the recess and with the opening of the rotor. Rotation of the rotor effects communication between the pressure line and allY of the bottom ports, making connections to open thev various pressure valves, with connections made between the top :ports and the waste line. In the rotation of the pilot valve rotor also all of the top ports are in turn connected with the pressure line to close the individual pressure valves in predetermined positions of the pilot valve rotor, with the bottom ports put into communication with the waste line.

When the rotary multiway pilot valve is of the rotary plug type, the valve ports for the bottom connections to the individual pressure'cylinders are located on one stage or plane around the pilot valve and the top cylinder connecting portson another piane around the pilot valve The rotary plug is then formed with two separate passage systems adapted to connect both top and bottom` ports to either a fluid pressure line or to a waste line, the pressure line entering the pilot valve casing at one end of the plug and thewaste line at the other end. The valve ports and the plug passages are so arranged that rotation of the plug to different angular positions eiects opening and closing of the individual pressure valves in a desired sequence. f

Thus, in different positions of the pilot valve, whether by a rotary disc or a rotary plug movement, all the piston valves are either opened or closed. The several piston valve operations are coordinated in the location of the various top and bottom ports of the pilot valve as will be hereinafter explained.

In a single complete rotation of the pilot valve rotor the various positions of the valve eiect coordinated operation of the several fluid control valves and these various coordinated valve operations are readily timed and made automatic by motor operation of the pilot valve stem with electrical control means.

Manual operation and control of heavy valves is simplified by means of a relatively light pilot valve and automatic operation and control of the valve systems within my invention. In this y showing,

pilot valve gives indirect but complete control of the heavy valves.' f

The pilot valve system for control of the cyl- Inder-piston valve actuation as described is adapted to use any suitable fluid under pressurev as the energizing medium. Water under the usual supply pressure is a satisfactory fluid. Various oils placed under pressure by a circulating pump may be used with advantage by reason of their lubricating properties. Compressed air is also satisfactory, in which case no collection of the waste fluid discharged by the pilot valve is required.

In Staegemann U. S. Patent No. 2,051,155 water softeners are automatically controlled by a rotary multipart valve directing the various flows for softening and regeneration in cooperation with an electric motor operating the valve, with a rotary circuit breaker actuated by the valve movements and with va timing switch and motor, the circuit 'breaker and timing switch controlling the valve operating motor circuit through the me-A dium of a magnetic switch in said motor circuit. In the present invention automatic operation and control is extended to water softeners of great capacity. This is done simply by means of operative connections between the pilot valve and the circuit breaker and the valve `operating motor.

In the accompanying drawings are shown, more or less dlagrammatically, water softener and lter Fig. 1 is a Iview in elevation with parts in section of a downfiow gravity water softener with a pilot valve control system;

Fig. 2 is a section through the pilot valve of the softener of Fig. '1;

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 2 being a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3,

Figs. 2 and 3 showing the pilot valve with they rotor in softening position;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 'I show sections through' the pilot ,valve of Fig. i in draining, backwashing, brining and rinsing positions, respectively;

Fig. il is an elevational view with parts in section of an open upiiow softener with a modified pilot valve;

Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are sections through the pilot valve of Fig. 8 with the rotor in softening, brining, downflow rinsing, draining and upilow rinsing positions, respectively.

Fig. 14 is an elevational lview of a downow pressure filter;

Figs. l5, 16 and 17 are sectional views of the pilot valve of Fig. 14 in positions for filtering, back-washing and ltering-to-waste, respective- 1y;

Figs. 18, 19 and 20 illustrate diagrammatically- 'preventing the possibility of contamination of the treated water by raw water;

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic elevational view with parts in section of a downfiow pressure water softener with piston valves controlled by a rotary pilot valve;

Fig. 22 is a vertical section through a rotary plug pilot valve suitable for the softener of Fig. 21, the section being along the line 22--22 as shown in Figs. 24 and 24a;

Fig. 23 is an elevational outline of a portion of the rotary plug in the valve shown in Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a horizontal section along the line 24-24 of Fig. 22 with the valve in softening position;

Fig. 24a is a horizontal section along the line 24a/ 24a of Fig. 22 with the valve in softening position;

Figs. 25, 26 and 27 are horizontal sections f similar to Fig. 24 with the valve in backwashing, brining and rinsing positions, respectively;

Figs. 25a, 26a and 27a are sections similar to Fig. 24a with `the valve in backwashing, brining and rinsing positions as in Figs. 24, 25, 26; and

Fig. 28 reproduces features of one of the figures of the acknowledged Staegemann patent with certain modifications showing a diagram of elec-p trolled by a valve V2 in the line 2 running to the bottom of the softening tank and terminating in a distributor D placed in a bed of gravel underlying the zeolite bed. The Low of water from the top of the softening tank to waste is controlled by a valve V2A, this valve being in a waste line 2A running from the trough at the top of saure' the softening tank. As shownpline 2A branches from line I. 'I'he flow of softened water to service or to storage from the bottom of the'softening tank is controlled by a valve V2 in the service line 3 connected, as shown, with the bottom line 2. 'Ihe flow of water from the bottom of the softening-tank to waste is controlled by a valve V4 in a waste line I running, as shown, from the bottom line 2. A water line 5 running from the -raw water-` line l carries water to` a brine "injector which sucks brine from a brine tank and a ow of brine from the injector to the top of the softening tank is passed through a. brine line G delivering through a brine distributor, as shown, line 6 being provided with a check valve to preventflow of water from the softener into the brine tank.

The iiow of pressure water to the brine injector` through line 5 is controlled by a valve Vl The hydraulic cylinders and pistons operating the six V valves are of the same construction as that of valve V3, shown in section. The valve is of the gate valve type with its stern operated by the piston E in the cylinder F. The hydraulic and the arrangement is such that the admission of pressure water into the line T with simultaneous connection of the line B to waste causes each valve to close, while admission of pressure water to the line B with connection of the line T to waste causes each valve to open.

A11 of the B and T lines running to the several hydraulic valve cylinders are connected -into a pilot valve of the rotary disc type which, as shown in Figs. 2 to 7, has a port plate having a-center port W connected with a waste line. The several B and T lines are connected into ports in the pilot valve port plate designated by reference numerals corresponding to those of the connections Band T running from the pilot valve to the several V valves. As shown the B ports are arranged on an outer circle of the port plate and the T ports on an inner circle of said plate, with each T port placed on a radius' of the concentric circles' about 36 behind that of the correspondingv B ports. A pressure water line to the pilot valve enters the valve casing forming a chamber in which a rotor provided with a hard rubber or similar facing is seated upon the port plate, being held by a spring, as shown, and being rotated by means of a. stem and hand wheel or gear. vThe rotor is formed with a recess R at its outer edge which admits pressure water to the B ports arranged on the outer circle and with an arcuate opening O running through the rotor and admitting pressure water into the T ports on the inner circle. The rotor also has a cavity or arcuate channel C so formed as to make connection between any of the B or T ports and the waste port W at the center of the port plate.

`The arrangement of the pilot valve B and T ports in relation tothe positions of the recess R, opening O and cavity C in the rotor allows for control of theoperations of softening, draining, backwashing,brining and rinsing by turning the pilot valve rotor to ilve diierent angular positions which may be about 72 apart.

Referring to -Flg. 3, showing the pilot valve in softening position, it is noted that ports BI and- B3 are supplied with pressure water through the rotor recess'R, while ports TI and T3 lare connected to waste through rotor cavity C and the waste port. As a.- result, valves Vl and V2 are opened and water is softened by downward ilow s through the zeolite bed and -discharged from the bottom of the softener into the service line. 'At the same time ports T2, TI and Tl get'pressure water through the rotor opening O and ports B2, BI and BB are connected to waste, and as a result valves V2, V2A. V4 and VI remain closed,

By turning the rotor through 72 to the drainYV ing position shown in Fig. 4, the line B3 is sup-. plied with pressure water and the valve V3 remains open ywhile -all the other V valve cylinders receive pressure through opening O and the T or top lines so that these other V valves are closed. This permits the clear untreated water in the softening tank above the zeolite bed to be drained from the softener through the bed, thereby being softened, and to flow together with the softened water contained in the bed to the service line through the open valve V2, this draining operation saving water.

When the water level in the softening tank has` been brought to the top of the zeolite bed, the pilot valve rotor is turned further through '72 to the backwash position of Fig. 5, supplying pressure water to port B2 through recess R and leaving all the other B ports connected to waste through the cavity C. Only valves V2 and V2A are opened, the B and T connections for both of these valves running to ports B2 and T2, respectively. The result is that backwash water isl delivered to the bottom of the softener and runs to waste from the top trough through valve V2A, and the zeolite bed is backwashed.

Upon turning the pilot valve 72 further to the brlning position of Fig. 6', ports BI and BB obtain pressure water opening valves V4 an'd V5, whilethe other four V valves are closed. Raw

water flows via line E through. the brine injector.

takingup brine which is carried into the top of the softening tank and the bottom of the softening tank .is connected through valve V4 towaste. Brining of the zeoliteis thus effected.

Turning the rotor again through 72 from the brlning position to the rinsing position of Fig. 7, ports BI and B4 receive pressure water opening valves VI and V4, the other valves being closed, and as a-result raw water enters the top of the softener via line I and the trough and the spent brine` is rinsed from the, zeolite bed and runs to waste from the bottom of the softening' tank through valve V4. l

A further turn of the pilot valve through '72 re-establishes the softening position of Fig. 3.'

In Figs. 8 to 13 is shown a system of plural hyvdraulic cylinder valves with a central multiway pilot valve of the rotary disc type controlling an open upilow softener in the ilve consecutive operations of softening, brlning), downilow rinsing, draining to bed and upow rinsing. In this systern, seven piston valves, V6 tol I2 inclusive, have bottom and top connections to B and T ports in the pilot valve similar to those shown in the system of Figs. 1 to-7. The pilot valve also has a central waste port and a pressure inlet chamber above the rotor, as shown in section in Fig. 2. v

In the softening position of the pilot valve, as shown in Fig. 9, ports B6 and B1 receive pressure through the rotor recess R while the T ports connected to the other five valve cylinders receive pressure water through rotor opening 0. Thus valves V6 and V1 are opened and the other valves chased, so that raw water enters the bottom of r the softening tank through line K and softened asma of the softening tank and passes through th opened valve V1 in line 1 to service.

Turning the valve rotor through aboutl onefth of a complete revolution. or '12 to the brining position shown in Fig. supplies pressure water through rotor recess R to the B connections of valves V8 and V9, thus opening these valves; the T connections of the other five valves being connected to the pressure line by opening O with the corresponding B ports connected to the waste port of the pilot valve through cavity C. T ports 8 and 9 being alsoconnected to waste. Thus valves VII), II, I2, 6 and 1 are closed and. valves V8 and V9 being open. raw water flows from raw water line K through lines III and 8 to 4 the brine injector and brine is drawn into the brine line running from the brine tank and delivered into the top of the softening tank through the brine distributor; the water in the softening tank being displaced through valve V9 to Waste. The zeolite bed is thus treated with brine for regeneration. l

Further turning ofthe pilot valve to the downiiow rinse position shown in Fig. 11 leaves the port B9 in communication with the pressure water line and also puts port BIIl in communication with the pressure line of thepilot valve, with ports T9 and TID connected to waste, leaving the other B ports connected to waste and T ports Il, I2, 6, 'I and 8 on pressure through the opening O. Thus valve V9 remains open and valve VIII is opened while the other V valves remain closed. This directs the flow of raw water through line IU to the top of the softening tank and spent brine i.: rinsed downwardly from the zeolite bed, passing through valve V9 to waste.

A further turn of the valve to the draining to bed position shown in Fig. 12 connects port BII to pressure, thus opens valve VII and closes all the other V valves. As a result the raw Water in the top of the softening tank is drained out through line II to waste until the level of Water in the softening tank is at or near the top of the zeolite bed.

The zeolite bed is then given an upiow rinsel softening tank and lls up the space above the zeolite bed, overflowing through the trough and into line I2 and through valve VI2 to waste. The top portion of the softening tank is thus filled with softened water.

A further turn of the pilot valve to the position shown in Fig. 9 reestablishes the softening connections. Thus ve turns of the valve through approximately fifths of a complete circle of 360 coordinate the opening and closing of the seven V valves to effect the five separate operations described.

For the operation of filtering apparatus, fewer connections are required than for water softening. A simple -pilot valve for controlling the three operations of ltering, backwashing and ltering to waste in a downow pressure filter equipped with pressure actuated valves is shown in Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17. The pilot valve for this filter is quite similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 7, but eliminaton of the brining and rinsing operations permits simplification of the pilot valve.

Only three positions of the pilot valve are required and change from each position to the next i-nvolves turning the valve rotor through a third 75 secutive positions of the pilot valve, could be kept ports.

of a circle. or In this valve the B and 'i' ports of each pair are located in the same angular position on the port plate.

In the nltering position oi' the pilot valve (Fig. 15) the position oi' the pilot rotor causes pressure water to be delivered to the bottom connections for opening valves VI and VI. This valve operation causes flow of water downward under pressure through the ill-ter and out from the bottom of the filter tank through valve V3 to service. In the 4second or backwash position (Fig. 16) line B2 receives pressure water and delivers it to both valves V2 and V2A to open them, eilfecting a backwash now of raw water into the bottom of the lter tank and out of the top and to Waste through valve V2A. In the third pilot valve position (Fig. 17) valves VI and .VI are openedvso that water is filtered to waste and clean filtered water is left in the bottoml of the filter tank.

It is noted that both in the pilot valve of Figs. 1 to 7 and in that of Figs. 8 to i3 the T ports on the inner circle of the port plate and the corresponding paired B ports on the outer circle of the port plate are angularly spaced from each other, that is, each T port is on a radius of the concentric circles spaced about 36 behind its corresponding B port. With this angular radial spacing of the ports, as shown, the arcuate opening 0 in the valve rotor is so located and arranged that as the rotor is rotated (in a clockwise direction as shown) the arcuate opening engages each T port, at about the same time that the recess R of the rotor leaves the corresponding B port with engagement of the B port by .the cavity channel C of the rotor. The arrangement is such as to leave a greater width with adequate ilow capacity'in the neck of the cavity channel C between the portion overlapping the T ports and the central waste port and that extending around the outer portion of the rotor engaging the B The angular radial spacing of the paired B and T ports gives latitude in the design of other and modiiied valves, with location of the B and T ports in relation to the rotor passages so as to open and close any ofthe V valves at desired intervals with respect to the opening and closing of the other valves. The arrangement aids in coordinating the valve movements.

In the layout of the pilot valve as shown in the various figures, w-hen any B port is placed at a point corresponding to the center line of rotor' recess R in any of its positions, then the V valve connected to such B port is open in only one position of the pilot valve. When it is desired that a V valve remain open in two consecutive operations, then the B port for this valve can be placed in the port plate half Way between the center lines of Ithe recess R in adjacent positions of the pilot valve. For example, valve V9 of Fig. 8 is open during the brining and the succeeding downilow rinse; port B9 (which controls the opening yof valve V9) being located half way between lthe center lines of recess R in the brining and down rinse positions, respectively (Figs. 10v and 11) and receiving pressure fluid through recess R in both positions.

If it should be necessary in any case, a V valve can be kept open for three or four consecutive operations simply by reversing the B and T connections of the V valve in the pilot valve so that pressure uuid for opening the V valve is supplied through the arcuateA opening in the pilot valve rotor instead of the recess. Valve VIZ, for example, shown in Figs. 8 to 13 as closed in four conopen ln these four positions by reversing the port connecti ns of pipes BI! and TI2 ,so that bottom pressure for opening valve Vi2 would be supplied through rotor opening O in the pilot valve.

It may be noted `that when the pilot valve for the filter of Fig 14 (or the |pilot valve for the softener of Fig. 21 hereinafter described) is turned from the normal service (filtering or'softening) position to the backwashing position, or 'when the pilot valve of Fig. l is turned from the drain position (Fig. 4) to the backwash position (Fig. 5), the service outlet valve V3 is connected for closing whileat 'the same time the backwash inlet valve V2 is connectedfor opening. There may therefore vbe a time shortly after the pilot valve has been turned to the backwash position when both these valves V2 and V3 are partly open, valve V3 having started to close and valve V2 having started to open, and this establishes for a short period of time a short circuit from the raw water line directly to the service line. Such contamination of the service water is lin some cases objectionable, and it can be prevented by any of the means shown in Figs. 18,219 and 20, which prevent valve V2 from being opened before valve V3 is closed.

As shown in Fig. 18, a diaphragm valve is inserted in line B2 (but it could instead be inserted in line T2) `and a ilow restricting orifice is inserted in line B3, the casing of the normally opened diaphragm valve being connected to line B3 between the orifice and the hydraulic cylinder of valve V3. As the pilot valve is turned to the baokwashing position from the filtering or softening position (or from the draining position of Fig. 1) the admission of pressure water into line T3 (in order to close valve-V3)-, and thence into the restricted oriilce in line B3. causes pressure to be communicated to the diaphragm valve casing in line B2 causing the diaphragm valve to close so that the piston ci valve V2 cannot move and the valve remains closed until the piston of valve V3 has reached the end oi its traveland valve V3 has closed, whereupon the pressure from the diaphragm casing is wasted through the flow re-.

stricting orifice in line B3, the diaphragm valve then opens and valve V2 is then able to open because of the admission oi' pressure water to the cylinder-through line B2. I

In the arrangementof Fig. 19 the principle is similar but here a normally closed solenoid valve is inserted -ln line B2. The piston rod of valve V3 is extended and carries a movable contact. When valve V3 has closed, this contact closes a circuit energizing the solenoid and thereby opening the solenoid valve which then permits valve V2 to open. l

In the arrangement of Fig. 20 a pressure switch is connected to the cylinder of valve V3 in such manner that it receives pressure through connection T3 when the piston has reached the end of its travel and has closed valve V3. This admission oi pressure closes the pressure switch energizlng the normally closed solenoid valve inline 'B2 which opens and then permits the backwash inlet valve V2 to open.

In Fig. 21 is shown a valve system for a downflow pressure Water softener under control of a pilot valve. A modification of the pilot valve of Figs. 2 to '7 may be used for this softener (without the draining position of Fig. 4). In Figs. 22 to 27a is illustrated a pilot valve of the rotary plug type for the Isoftener of Fig. 21. In this valve the arrangement of the B ports and the/T ports on two diil'erent circles in the valve body is efi'ected by placing the B ports and the T ports on different planes in the valve. In principle the action oi' the rotary plug pilot valve in coordinating the operation'oi' a plurality of valves by flow of a fluid under pressure is' the same as that of the rotary disc valve.

As shown in the figures, a rotary plug multiway pilot valve comprises a circular casing with a conical or cylindrical plug disposed in the casing and rotatable therein. The casing is formed with B ports arranged in a circle on one plane and T ports in a circle on another plane. These B and T ports have connections to the bottoms and tops.

respectively, of valve operating cylinder-pistons of a structure shown in the valve V3 oi' Fig. 21. In

the pilot valve casing abovel the plug rotor is formed a chamber P with an inlet for wateror other suitable fluid under pressure. The pilot valve casing is also formed with a chamber W below the plug rotor arranged with a central waste outlet. Theplug rotor is held by the force of a spring held by a top closure on the valve casing through which the stem of the rotor passes,

the stem being provided with a handwheel or gearing ior either manual or motor operation. Pressure chamber P above the rotor plug communicates through a, short longitudinal channel Pi in the rotor (Fig. 23) with a peripheral rotor channel P2 at the level of the B ports, from which another short longitudinal channel P3 communicates with a second peripheral channel PI engaging the T ports. The waste outlet chamber W connected to the waste line communicates and also with the T and the peripheral through a central longitudinal rotor channel WI with a peripheral channel W2 at the level of the T ports and further through a central channel W3 with a peripheral channel WI engaging the B ports.- Thus the plug is adapted to establish communication between the top pressure chamber and the various B circle in the upper portion oi' the valve casing ports in a second circular set in the lower portion of the valve casing. Rotation or the valve plug also establishes communication between the waste chamber at the bottom and the various T ports in the lower portion of the valve casing as well as the upper or B ports.

As shown, the arrangement of the casing ports -plug passages is such as to control the opening and closing oi' the-V valves for the operations of softening, backwashing, brining and rinsing in a pressure downflow water softener. In the softening position of the pilot vvalve plug rotor (Figs. 24 and 24a) pressure Water flows from 'chamber P through rotor passages PI and P2 to ports BI and B3 and ports Tl' and T3 on the lower plane are connected through plug passages W2 and WI with the waste chamber W having connection with a drain. These simultaneous B and T connections supply fluid to the cylinders ci' valves VI and V3 to open them and pass water downwardly through the softener tank, softened water passing to service from the bottom of the tank through valve V3. In this position of the pilot valve pressure water goes through rotor channels PI, P3 and P4 to the T ports for valves V2 (and V2A) v4 and V30 so that ports arranged in a set on a y valve.

11 V2. and V2A, sending backwash water into the bottom oi the softener and out from the top to the sewer; valves VI, V3, V4 and-V50 being closed by pressure water passing through channels P3 and P4 and ports Tl, T3, T4 and T5.

After completion .of backwashing, aturn of the pilot valve through 90 to the brining position (Figs. 26 and 26a) supplies pressure water through port B4 to open valve V4. In this posi tion of the pilot valve, port T5 is connected to waste and the spring-diaphragm valve V50 is opened by its spring. This results in directing a flow of water to the injector and in passing brine downwardly through the softener bed, waste fluid passing throughpilot valve ports T4 and T5 and plug passages W2 and Wi to the waste outlet; valves Vl, V2 (and 2A) and V3 being closed by pressure admitted through peripheral plug passage P4 to ports Tl, T2 and T3.

The arrangement as shown in Fig. 2l exemplifies use of the central rotary pilot valve in control of diaphragm valves. The arrangement is advantageous, particularly when the valve to be controlled is of relatively small size and light weight. A diaphragm valve can be substituted for any of the piston valves with appropriate omission ofthe B or T connections to the pilotl valve.

After brining, a further turn of the pilot ,valve through 90 to the rinsing position (Figs.v 27r and 27a) leaves port B4 under pressure (the location of port B4 being such as to engage channel P2 in both brining and rinsing positions) to keep waste valve V4 open and puts port Bl Aunder pressure to open valve Vl admitting rinsing water to the top of the softener; ports T3, T2 and T5 being under pressure through peripheral plug passage P4 communicating through longitudinal passages P3 and PI with the pressure chamber P.

A further turn of the pilot v alve through 90 from the rinsing position reestablishes the softening position of the various valves. Thus by four quarter turns of the pilot valve the operation of the six V valves is coordinated to effect three regenerative operations and return to softening.

Control of the 'several V valves by the rotary pilot valve may be made completely automatic. For this the pilot valve is operated by an electric motor under control by electrical means. Various known valve control andv timing systems may 4be adapted to plural valve control through the medium of a motor-operated central pilot Advantageous combinations are afforded by the valve system of the present invention and the valve control means of Hughes Patent No.

2,012,194 and of Pick 1,937,325. In large scale work I have found the system described in the acknowledged Staegemann Patent No. 2,051,155 to be particularly advantageous for automatic control of large sized plural valves.

Fig. 28 shows a diagram of electrical timing control means for a water softener as described in the Staegemann patent with substitution of the multiway pilot valve of the present invention for the control valve and with modiiications of the control means adapted to make pilot valve control of a plural valve water softener completely automatic. The pilot valve may be either of the rotary disc type (Figs. 1 to 7 and 8 to 13) or of the rotary plug type (Figs. 21 to 27a).

In Fig. 28 the pilot valve is shown as a rotary disc'valve having four positions 90 apart and x corresponding for example to softening,A backwashlng, brining and rinsing.

The water meter 33 is connected in the softened water service line as for example in line 3 of Fig. 21 and regeneration is started by the water I meter closing switch I2I after passage of a predetermined amount of softened water through the meter; the valve operating motor BD beiner started to rotate the pilot valve from the softi' nected to the pilot valve shaft after each valve actuation and being started for each actuation by the automatic time switch or the float switch as described in the Staegemann patent. Complete automatic control of a system of heavy plural valves is thus secured.

What I claim is:

l. A valve system for automatically coordinating a plurality of fluid ows which comprises, in combination, a plurality of valves operated by pressure cylinders and pistons, a rotary multiway pilot valve provided with a pressure fluid inlet and an exhaust uld outlet and having a plurality of pairs of ports with pipes connecting each pair of ports to opposite ends of one of the operating valve cylinders and a rotatable valve member having two systems of passages formed therein adapted upon rotation of said valve member to connect one of each of said pairs of ports with the pressure iluid inlet and the other of each pair of ports with the waste outlet, an electric motor for rotating the pilot valve, a circuit breaking device actuated by said motor and adapted to deenergize said motor, and circuit closing means in series therewith adapted to energize said motor.

2. In a valve system for coordinating a plurality of fluid flows which comprises a plurality of main valves operated by a fluid under pref;- sure, pilot valve means controlling the pressure fluid and pressure fluid connections between the main valves and the pilot valve means. means for preventing. the opening of one ol" said main valves until a second of said main valves closed. said last named means comprising an auxiliary valve in apressure uid connection to said one main valve, and means for opening said auxiliary valve automatically actuated by the closing of said second main valve.

3. A combination according to claim 2,thc means for opening the auxiliary valve being actuated by a change in pressure of the pressure fluid operating the second main valve.

REFERENCES CITED rlhe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 28, 1908 Number Number 

